Upper Burrell Fire Co. teams with Port Vue for $15,000 cash 'Luck of the Irish' drawing

As the pandemic continues to hammer traditional fundraising, Upper Burrell Volunteer Fire Company is teaming up with a fire company from Allegheny County for a Luck of the Irish raffle offering a $15,000 cash prize.

“The pandemic has caused us to find new and innovative ways to do business,” said Kevin Hogan, captain and financial secretary for the Upper Burrell fire company.

He estimated that since the pandemic, fundraising is down more than 20% as the company can’t present events to raise money.

“We wanted to do something different,” Hogan said. The company already offers monthly raffles on hunting guns and other popular items.

Luck of the Irish tickets are $20. They include eight pick-four numbers tied to the Pennsylvania Lottery Pick 4 drawing at 7 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.

For the raffle, Upper Burrell is teaming with the Port Vue because they are known for their success with large raffles.

“Also you don’t want to do a raffle with another fire department next door to you because you will be pulling from the same pool of people.”

Sales for the big raffles have been brisk during the pandemic, said Brandon Hale, chief of the volunteer fire department for Port Vue, in Allegheny County near Glassport.

“Ultimately, yeah, we are selling more tickets,” he said. “But it’s us pushing them more and advertising. Also people are more inclined to donate to the department because they know we are hurting big.”

Hale said during the pandemic, his department has lost about $100,000 — money they would have typically collected from events like bingos, cash bashes and hoagie sales.

“While we’ve received support from Port Vue Borough and some money from the county and FEMA, we’re not receiving the financial help we need,” he said.

Hogan would like to add more big raffles this year.

The Upper Burrell company is also making it easier for people to give to the fire company by credit card on the web at upperburrellvfc.com.